If you have someone in your family that loves The Polar Express movie, then this could be the perfect gift for them! It is easy and inexpensive to make. I actually used scrap wood to make mine. The only thing I needed to purchase was the bell.
Here are the steps to take to make one.
Needed materials:
Needed materials:
- 1/8" Plywood scrap
- 1" x 4" Board
- Wood Glue
- Finishing nails
- Bell
- Ribbon
- Twine or String
- Paint for the background
- Paint Marker
- Paint or Stain for the frame
Step 1: Cut your plywood. I used a piece of scrap that was about 8" x 10".
You could use any size that you have on hand.
Step 2: Cut your 1" x 4" boards to fit the size of your plywood. Bevel the ends at 45 degrees. Optionally, you could just cut the ends square.
Step 3: Paint your plywood. I used Black for my background.
Step 4: Using a paint marker, write your message.
Step 5: Glue and clamp your frame. You could also use finishing nails.
Step 6: Sand the frame.
Step 7: Paint or stain the frame. I wanted to give mine a weathered wood look. So, I first painted it a Nutmeg color.
Then, I painted over the Nutmeg with an Antique White.
After the paint dried, I sanded off some of the white paint to create the weathered look.
Step 8: Tie the twine to the bell and make a small bow. I secured the bow with a dab of hot glue.
Step 10: With the bell in place, nail the background to the frame. You may want to also secure the bell to the back to ensure it stays put.
Step 11: Enjoy your shadow box!
